Expression device for automatic musical instruments.



e. 9. BRAND. EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1910. RENEWED OCT. 9.1914.

Patented June 1, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. I910- RENEWED OCT. 9. 1914.

1,141,607. PatentedJune 1, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.' 1 2a I): NORRIS PuL w: 1.1).. F'HDTO III!!!) WASl/INUIUN. D. r

4 G. P. BRAND.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY m. 1910. RENEWED OCT. 9. 1914.

1 ,141,607, Pafiented J1me 1, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-Linda. WASHINGTON. D. C.

'e. P. BRAND.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSERUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1910. RENEWED 0CT. 9. 19M.

THE NORRIS PETERS co, PHoTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C,

Patented June 1, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SflEET 4.

("lb Comm GEORGE 1?. BRAND, NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune 1, 1915.

Application filed May 10, 1910, Serial No. 560,409. Renewed October 9, 1914. Serial No. 865,950.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE P. BRAND, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expression Devices for Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in expression mechanisms for automatic musical instruments, and while herein shown as applied to the hammer rail, it is evident that it is applicable to other uses and in other connections, and the invention is, therefore, in no wise restricted to its application to the hammer rail. 7

The present invention has for its objects among others to assist the player action in performing its proper functions more perfectly at critical times. When operating a player piano and producing medium loud effects, the hammers have sufficient force to produce all results required in repetition, etc. It is my aim, at a certain time when the pressure is reduced to the critical point, to have the hammers and rail move forward automatically in accordance with the pressure as it is being lowered in the action,

either by the pedals or by any means for.

varying the pressure. Inplayers without my improvement, if a piece of music has very rapid repetition and the music is being played very soft, there is not enough energy in the player to cause the hammers to travel the full distance, which is from one and seven-eighths inches to two inches, sometimes more or less. They will do this very readily when playing from the medium loud to very loud. At present there are devices of different characters operated by mechanical means and otherwise for throwing the hammers up to the strings by the operator, but this takes a man skilled in the art of operating players to know just when the proper time comes to throw the rail to the strings, whereas anybody not skilled in the art would not produce the results that the player is capable of producing as he is not apt to throw the rail forward at the proper time. WVith my present device, anybody skilled in the art of playing is not required as this is automatically accomplished from whatever pressure-the machine is operated by.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated, in the preferred form, in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing my improved mechanism with portions in section and parts broken away, illustrating the parts in the position they assume when the player is not being operated, leaving the hammers and rail in position for ordinary hand playing of the piano. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they assume when playing under high pressure. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when playing under low pressure. Fig. 4: is a like view with the parts in the position they assume when playing under medium or intermediate pressure.

Fig. 5 is a View at right angles to Fig. 3

with the hammer, hammer rail and closely associated parts removed. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the rail-operating pneumatics and chest. Fig. 7 is a detail partly in section showing the pedals and connections.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the rear hammer rail which it is to be understood extends entirely across the action.

2 is the front hammer rail which, in practice, is divided into sections in the usual manner, but which it is not deemed neces-' sary to illustrate herein. The hammers 3 are of known construction, 4 being the hammer shanks, 5 representing one of the strings of the piano.

6 represents one of the supports for the back hammer rail 1, the same being pivotally mounted, as at 7, in the usual manner.

8 is a flange or member on the under side of the rear hammer rail 1 to which is pivotallly connected, as at 9, the front hammer rai 2.

10 is a rod loosely connected at one end in any suitable manner to the back of the hammer rail 1, the other end Working.

through an aperture in the arm 11 of a bell crank lever, which latter is pivotally mounted, at its angle, as at 12, its other arm 13 having connected to its end, as at 14: one end of the'wire or rod 15, the other end of which is connected, as at 16, to an arm 17 secured to the movable member of an actuating pneumatic 18.

19 is an arm extending from the hammer rail 2 and through an aperture therein passes one end of the rod or wire 20, the other end of which is connected, as at 21, to the arm 22 secured to the movable member of the actuating pneumatic 23 for the hammer rail 2.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a section of the action chest controlling the pneumatic 23, 2 1 being the connection from the same to the tension chest of the player action. 25 is the connection for communication with the tension chest 25' of the player action from the pneumatic 18, thus placing the pneumatic 18 at all times in communication with the tension chest of the player. 26 is a resistance pneumatic connected with the pneumatic 18 by spring or yielding connection 27. 28 is a pneumatic operating a valve to cut out the resistance pneumatic 26 at the proper time. 29 is a spring connection between the fixed member of the pneumatic 26 and an arm 30 projecting from the movable member of the pneumatic 28. The tension of this spring is designed to be regulated by a nut or the like 31 on the threaded rod 32, whereby I am enabled to regulate or adjust the tension on the pneumatic 28 to cause it to operate at the right time to cut out the resistance pneumatic 26. 33 is a slide having a chamber 3%,

said slide being connected by a wire or rod 35 with an arm 36 on the movable member of the pneumatic 28. This valve is mounted to slide in suitable guides 37 on the port block 38,. one of said guides being provided with: alateral projection 39 serving as a stop to limit the outward movement of the movable member of the pneumatic 28. This slide controls the ports 40 and 41 in the port block, as will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 1,2, 3 and 4. The port 41 communicates by the passage 42 with the interior of the pneumatic 2G. The port l0 com1nuni cates with the interior of the pneumatic 28 by the passage 4-3. 44: is a tube connecting the port 40 with the interior of the port block 15. 4-6 is a tube connecting the port block 17 with the port block 45. The port block 17 communicates with the interior of the bellows 4L8, as indicated in Fig. 2. e9 is a spring connecting the movable member of the bellows t8 with the arm 17 carried by the movable member of the bellows 18. 51 is a spring adapted to hold the pneumatic 4-8 open when the player is not being used, the parts at that time being in the position seen in Fig. 1. 52 is a spring adapted to hold the bellows 23 open at all times when not in use in order to allow the hammers to lie in their normal position against the hammer rail 2.

lVith the parts constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, the operation is as follows: As shown in Fig. 1, the parts are in the position adapting the piano for playing by hand in the usual manner. It is to be understood that under these conditions the mechanism herein illustrated takes no part, that is performs no function whatsoever. Now assuming that it is desired to play the piano mechanically through the medium of the player mechanism common to such devices, it is at this time that my present invention is brought into play and performs its important functions. As seen in Fig. 1, when the parts are in position to permit of playing of the piano by hand in the ordinary way, the two ports H) and 41 are both in communication with the chamber 34; of the slide and through such chamber with each other, and the interior of the pneumatic 26 is in communication with the said ports. The pneumatic 28 is at all times in communication with the port l0.

lVhen the performer starts to operate the player, the bellows l8 commences to be deflated, pulling downward on the spring 19 pulling downward the movable member of the pneumatic 18 until the pneumatic 48 is entirely deflated. This deflation of the pneumatic as is against the resistance caused by the pneumatic 18 being in communication with the exhaust through the connection 25, as indicated in Fig. 6. Simultaneously therewith the pneumatic 26 starts downward, pulling against the resistance, thus aiding the spring 49 to pull down said pneumatic 18, and at the same time aiding in overcoming the resistance in said pneumatic 18. Simultaneously with these movements, the bellows 28 is collapsing or be ing deflated. If only light tension is employed in the player when starting to play, the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 3, where such parts are adapted for playing under low or soft pressure, thereby carrying the hammer rails and, consequently, the hammers, forward, that is nearer the string 5 indicated in said Fig. 3. In this position, the bellows 28 has moved the slide 33 a portion of its movement, closing the port 41 about one-half. It is to be understood that the pneumatic 18, under these conditions, is deflated and thus remains during the operation of the player whether under high, low or all intermediate pressures, thus serving to at all times keep the proper tension on the spring as. W hen the tension is slightly increased the pneumatic 18 starts slightly upward against the resistance of the spring 429 and against the spring 27, which allows slight movement independent of the bellows 26, and simultaneously therewith partially deflating the pneumatic The slide 33 commences to move upward covering more of the port 41 and when medium pressure is reached, the port 40 is entirely closed by said valve and the parts assume the position seen in Fig. 4. As greater tension is employed, the bellows 28 starts upward, moving with it the valve 33, uncovering the port 41, admitting atmosphere into the pneumatic 26 through the port 41 and passage 42, allowing the pneu-. matic 18 greater resistance against the spring 49, the bellows 18 then traveling upward, allowing the rails and hammers to fall farther back until they have reached the position shown in Fig. 2 in full lines, the other parts also assuming the positions in which they are seen in said Fig. 2. The dotted line position of the rails and hammers and the pneumatic 23 shows the position of such parts when the front rail 2 only is actuated this being done by a push button or other well-known means, not herein shown. lVhen the pressure or tension is reduced, the reverse movement and operation of the parts is brought about, the movements being alternated as the tension or pressure is increased or diminished and so on. This automatic mechanism is so arranged that in operating a player with this attached and the parts being concealed from view, it is impossible to tell any difference, so far as easy pumping is concerned, in playing this from a player without it and if it were not for the cut-out mechanism, comprising the pneumatics 26 and 28, the port block 38 and the slide 33 controlling the ports therein, it would be necessary to pump very vigorously to bring the hammer rail back to its 7 7 normal position, provided the spring 49 were strong enough to draw the hammers up in the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby causing the player to apparently pump hard as the power would'not be obtained out of the stroke that would be obtained with the hammer rail back in its normal position, as the spring would have a tendency to keep the hammers up too close to the string. But, by the means I employ, when medium pressure is attained, the cut-out mechanism is put in operation and allows the rail to return with a very little more energy on the pedals. It will be understood that if the player is put under instantaneous change from soft to high pressure, the hammer rails will move from the closest position as regards the string to their farthest position therefrom, simultaneously therewith, and vice versa.

Modifications in details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed as new is 1. A hammer rail, a tension chest, a pneumatic for actuating the hammer rail, normally directly communicating with the tension chest and actuated by variations of pressure therein, a tension device acting in to said pneumatic and operable in opposition thereto and in conjunction with the first-named tension device to inflate the pneumatic and means for varying the tension of said tension devices.

3. A tension chest, a hammer rail, an actuating pneumatic therefor and actuated by variations of pressure in said chest, a ten sion device connected with said pneumatic, an auxiliarytension device connected to said pneumatic and operable in opposition thereto and in conjunction with the first-named tension device to inflate the pneumatic and means for varying the tension of said tension devices.

4. A tension chest, a hammer rail, a pneumatic for actuating the same directly oommunicating with said tension chest and actuated by variations of pressure therein, and two independent tension devices connected to said pneumatic and means for varying the tension of said tension device.

5. A tension chest, a hammer rail, a pneumatic for actuating the same directly connected with said tension chest, two independent tension devices connected to said pneumatic, and a cut-01f for one of said tension devices.

6. A tension chest, a hammer rail, a pneumatic for actuating the same directly connected with said tension chest, two inde pendent tension devices connected to said pneumatic, and an automatic cut-oft for one of said tension devices.

7. A tension chest, a hammer rail, a pneumatic for actuatingthe same directly connected with said tension chest, two independent tension devices connected to said pneumatic, and a pneumatic cut-off for one of said tension devices.

8. A hammer rail, a tension chest, an actuating pneumatic for said hammer rail directly communicating with said tension chest, a resisting pneumatic yieldingly con nected with said first pneumatic, an operating member for said hammer rail connected with the actuating pneumatic, an independent tension device connected with said pneumatic, and an automatic cut-out for cutting out said pneumatics from operative relation with each other.

9. An actuating pneumatic directly connected with a tension chest, a rail-operating member connected therewith a rail, said tension chest, two independent tension devices connected with said pneumatic, and

pneumatic means for cutting out one of said tension devices.

10. An actuating pneumatic directly connected with a tension chest, a rail-operating mcn'iber connected therewith, a rail, said tension chest, a resisting pneumatic yieldingly connected with the actuating pneumatic, a tension device connected with said actuating pneumatic, and a pneumatic cutout for said resisting pneumatic.

11. A, hammer rail, a tension chest, an actuating pneumatic normally communicating directly with said tension chest, a resisting pneumatic connected to move with said actuating pneumatic, a tension device connect ed with the actuating pneumatic, an operating rod for said hammer rail connected with said actuating pneumatic, and a pneumatically operated cut-out movable with the resisting pneumatic.

1.2. A hammer rail, a tension chest, an actuating pneumatic normally directly communicating with said tension chest, an operating rod for said hammer rail connected with said pneumatic, a resisting pneumatic movable with the actuating pneumatic, a tension device for the actuating pneumatic, and a pneumatic cut-out for the resisting pneumatic movable with the latter and indirectly afiecting said tension device.

13. A tension chest, a hammer rail, a pneumatic for actuating the same normally in direct communication with said chest and actuated by variations of pressure therein, a tension device acting in opposition to the pneumatic, and an auxiliary tension device assisting the first-named tension device and means for varying the tension of said tension devices.

14:. A hammer rail, a tension chest, a pneumatic for actuating the same directly communicating with said tension chest, a tension device acting in opposition to said pneumatic, and an auxiliary pneumatic acting in opposition to the first named pneumatic and assisting the first-named tension device.

15. A hammer rail, a pneumatic for actuating the same, a tension device acting in opposition to said pneumatic, an auxiliary tension device acting in opposition to the actuating pneumatic and assisting the firstnamed tension device, and a cut oil for the last-named tension device.

16. A hammer rail, a pneumatic for actuating the same, a tension device acting in opposition to said pneumatic, a resisting pneumatic acting in opposition to the actuating pneumatic and assisting the firstnamed tension device, and a pneumatic cutofi' for the resisting pneumatic.

17. A hammer rail, a pneumatic for actuating the same, a tension device acting in opposition to said pneumatic, a resisting pneumatic acting in opposition to the actuating pneumatic and assisting the tension device, and a cut-oii' for the resisting pneumatic indirectly assisting said tension device.

18. A hammer rail, a tension chest, an actuating pneumatic normally communicatin with said tension chest, a tension device acting on the hammer rail, means supplemental to the tension device to actuate the hammer rail, a connection between the actuating pneumatic and the hammer rail, and pneumatic means assisting said tension device.

19. A hammer rail, a tension chest, oppositely acting pneumatic and tension means acting directly on and controlling the movement of said hammer rail, and pneumatic automatically controlled means acting in conjunction therewith and embodying an ac tuating pneumatic normally directly com municating with said tension chest and means for varying the tension of said tension means.

20. A hammer rail, a tension device acting thereon, means acting in opposition to the tension device to actuate the hammer rail, pneumatic means assisting said tension device, and means for cutting out said pneumatic means.

21. A tension chest, a hammer rail, a pneumatic connected with the hammer rail and normally in direct communication with said tension chest and actuated by variations of pressure therein for varying the position of the hammer rail with relation to the strings of a piano, tension means acting in opposition to said pneumatic and means for varying the tension of the tension means.

A tension c1cst,a hammer rail, a pneumatic connected with the hammer rail and normally communicating with said tension chest and actuated by the variations of pressure therein for varying the position of the hammer rail with relation to the strings of a piano, and a tension device in addition to and operating in conjunction with said pneumatic and means for varying the tension of said tension device.

23. A hammer rail, a tension chest, a pneumatic connected with said hammer rail and normally communicating with said tension chest for varying the position of thehammers with relation to the strings in accordance with the variations of pressure in the tension chest, a tension device operating in conjunction with said pneumatic, an auxiliary tension device, a second pneumatic acting in conjunction therewith, and an automatic cut-out controlling said second pneumatic.

.2 l. A tension chest, a hammer rail, a plurality of pneumatics normally in direct commui'iication with said chest and one actuated by variations of pressure therein, tension devices, in addition to said pneumatics, for varying the position of the hammer rail With relation to the strings of a piano, and

sion chest and actuated by variations of pressure there1n,'a tenslon devlce actlng 1n opposition to the said pneumatic, and pneumatic means for varying the tension thereof. 26. In combination With a hammer rest rail and a pedal operated Wind-inducing device of a self-playing musical instrument, separate pneumatics communicating With the Wind-inducing device and connected to the hammer rail for shifting the latter in opposite directions, the connection between one of the pneumatics and hammer rest rail including a spring.

27. In combination With a Wind-inducing device and hammer rest rail of a self-play- 20 ing piano, separate pneumatics of unequal size communicating With theWind-inducing device, and connections between the pneumatics and hammer rest rail including a yielding element.

Signed by me at Washington, D. (3., this 7th day-0f May, 1910.

GEORGE P. BRAND.

' Witnesses:

E. H. BOND, JOHN Sonrvnnnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- e Washington, 110. 

